Marines uncover wide abuse, hazing after recruit's suicide

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Marine Corps is considering possible punishments and potential courts-martial for up to 20 officers and enlisted leaders in the wake of investigations into the suicide of a 20-year-old recruit at its Parris Island training facility in South Carolina.

The results of three investigations released Thursday found trainees — and even some drill instructors — were subjected to repeated incidents of verbal and physical abuse at the storied training site. It also faulted commanders for not paying enough attention to what was going on.

The investigations were sparked by the death of Raheel Siddiqui of Taylor, Michigan, a young Muslim who had told his relatives he wanted to become a Marine to serve his country. He died after falling nearly 40 feet in a stairwell.

An attorney for Siddiqui's family, Nabih Ayad, has said the family has "always suspected hazing of some sort" in connection with his death. He did not return a phone call Thursday and calls to the family weren't returned.

Some of the 20 commanders and senior enlisted leaders have already been fired, including the three most senior Marines in charge of the recruit's unit. The Marines also ordered that the rest be temporarily relieved, according to a statement sent to The Associated Press. Their punishments could range from administrative punishments, such as counseling, to the most severe action of military charges and courts-martial.

No formal charges have been filed. Under military law, a preliminary hearing must be held that will determine whether the incident warrants further administrative or judicial action in every individual's case.

That process could take weeks to months, and the individuals would not be identified unless they are formally charged.

The findings are the result of three investigations conducted over the past six months by Maj. Gen. James Lukeman from the service's training and education command.

A redacted investigative report did not mention Siddiqui by name but appeared to describe his death. It says that on March 18, the day Siddiqui died, an unnamed recruit wrote a note to his drill instructor asking to go to the infirmary for a sore throat. Because he didn't follow proper procedure, the recruit was forced to run back and forth in his barracks, the report said.

After several runs, the recruit began to cry and fell to the floor clutching his throat, apparently unresponsive, the report said. He was ordered to get up and was slapped in the face, it said. After he was slapped, the recruit ran out a door and vaulted over a railing on the third floor of the barracks, the report said.

The investigation also revealed "recurrent physical and verbal abuse of recruits by drill instructors," with a lack of oversight by officers. Even new drill instructors were subjected to abuse by more senior drill instructors, a practice known as "hat hazing" because of the iconic flat-brimmed hats worn by the instructors.

About 500 drill instructors are assigned to the Parris Island post. Parris Island is the only site where female Marines go through basic training, but they are trained in units separate from their male counterparts. All recruits from east of the Mississippi River train at the massive installation.

The report said Lukeman's command has also taken steps to review and revise the Corps' approach to mental health issues and its handling of potential issues or statements by personnel involving suicide.

The statement said immediate steps have been taken to enforce a "zero-tolerance" approach to hazing, and called for increased oversight of training activities by additional Marine Corps officers.

The report said the investigation found the abuse was confined to Siddiqui's battalion at Parris Island, but the ordered changes to policy will apply to all battalions at Parris Island and the Marine Corps' West Coast training facility in San Diego.

The Michigan congresswoman who pressed the Marine Corps to look into Siddiqui's death said the service has taken only the first step in helping his family get answers it deserves. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said she is visiting the South Carolina site this weekend to review changes the service has made in light of Siddiqui's death, and to make sure those found responsible are held accountable.

"As a young Muslim man, he truly understood the value of freedom of religion and all he wanted was to defend the ideals our nation holds dear," Dingell said in a statement.